Material handling mechanism



April 26 1938. LEV|N 2,115,640

MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANI SM Original Filed April 30, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P \D E i 3 o 0 3 Q K 0' Q Q P 32K 3 8 o E i 2 :3 :3 as E I =/w 5 Q [NVE/VTOR:

April 26, 1938. N. D. LEVIN 2,115,640

MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed April 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/vvE/vToR:

a //'/s D. Lev/n,

ATT'Y Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,115,640 MATERIAL HANDLING DIECHANISM Nils D. Levin, Columbus, Ohio, assignor toThe Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio 8 Claims.

My invention relates to track-mounted loading machines particularly of the type adapted for use in coal mines, and one of the objects of the invention is the provision of means for retaining above the mine track the receiving portion of conveying apparatus while the gathering mech-.

anism is. operated in advance of the mine track.

Another object of the invention is to combine with the forward receiving end of a conveyor, means for engaging the mine track to prevent lateral movement of such receiving end while gathering mechanism is operating arcuately in advance of the mine track while delivering material to such receiving end.

More particularly it is the object of the present invention to provide a pair of flanged Wheels for the forward receiving end of a conveyor of a loading machine to prevent lateral movement of such receiving end relatively to the mine track while such flanged wheels engage the latter during swinging movements of the gathering conveyor operating to deliver material to such receiving end.

Another object of the invention is the pro- Vision in a track mounted loading machine having a gathering conveyor connected to the forward receiving end of a swinging receiving conveyor, of wheels for such receiving end for trans.- portation purposes along a mine track and also for preventing lateral movement of the said receiving end when the gathering conveyor is operated arcuately over the mine floor in advance of the mine track.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the rear end of a machine embodying my invention show- 40 ing the discharge conveyor section;

Fig. 2 is. a side elevational view of the front end of the machine of Fig. 1, showing the gather- 448,626, filed April30, 1930, which issued as Patent No. 1,997,589 on April 16, 1935, and is a continuation in part of my application for Material handling mechanism, Serial No. 480,216, filed September 6, 1930, which issued as Patent No. 5 1,997,591 on April 16, 1935.

As has been mentioned, the present machine comprises generally a discharge or receiving conveyor, and a gathering conveyor which have been indicated on the drawings as. A and B, respec- 10 tively. The discharge'conveyor A is the same (with some additions, as will hereinafter appear) as the pit' car loader described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,997,588 dated April 16, 1935. Only a brief description of this conveyor unit 15 will thus be necessary.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, a truck frame 29 is provided with wheels as at 2| and 22 adapted to engage amine track, of which one of the rails is. shown at 23. Mounted on frame 20 is a frame 20 or turntable 24 for pivotal movement about a vertical pivot as shown in full detail in each of the aforementioned Patents Nos. 1,997,589 and 1,997,591. A shaft 26 is journaled in bearings 01: frame 24, and pivotal about this shaft is a con- 25 veyor trough 21. The delivery end 27 of the conveyor trough is pivoted to the forward end about a shaft 28, and rests on a bolster 29 which is vertically adjustable on threaded rods 36 depending from the ends. of brackets 3| fixed to the '30 extremity of the forward portion of trough 21.

An electric motor 32'mounted on frame 24 drives a countershaft 33 through a sprocket chain 34. An idler sprocket 35 engages the chain to hold it clear of a winding drum 63 and its con- 35 trol appurtenances.

As disclosed more in detail in my above mentioned applications, the countershaft 33 is connected to shaft 25 through chain and sprocket means, and through the intermediary of a manually controllable clutch, which shaft 26 carries sprockets for driving draft chains movable in the conveyor trough 2'1 of "discharge conveyor A, between which chains extend material conveying flights. In addition, there is provided appropriate chain and sprocket means directly connecting the countershaft 33 to the shaft 45 whereby said shaft 45 is always rotating when countershaft 35 is rotated. An appropriate clutch is provided to connect a continuous universally flex- 5 ible drive chain 52 to the shaft 45 and to the wheels 2| and 22 of the truck, which chain 52 extends over guide sheaves 53 and 54 and around sheaves 55 and 55 fixed to the shafts of said wheels 2| and 22. Thus, the conveyor unit com- 55 prises a self-contained unit which may be moved about a mine under its own power.

Loosely journaled on shaft 45 is a drum 63 adapted to receive a rope or cable I69, the functions of which are hereinafter described. Said drum is connected to shaft 45 through a releasable friction clutch operable from lever 19. In addition, said drum carries a braking flange or pulley with which cooperates a manually operable brake mechanism including a lever 80 which may be held in an adjustable position by a well-known pawl-ratchet means 86.

In addition to the pivotal relation provided between the forward and rear sections of the conveyor A about pivot 28, the whole conveyor is pivotal about the shaft 26 relative to the truck 20. Pivotal movement of said conveyor on said truck 20 about a vertical axis is also provided, as above mentioned.

Trough 21 at its forward end extends downward in proximity to the track rails and has a forward receiving portion 21" adapted to assume a substantially horizontal position immediately above the rails. At substantially the end of the downwardly extending portion of the trough 21, there is erected an upright frame generally denoted at 89, this frame being composed of struc tural steel parts. Attached to the frame 89 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis on a mounting 90, is a crane jib II2 having at its forward end a pair of sheaves I I4 about which are reeved sections of the rope or cable I69 for lifting the gathering conveyor B about its vertical pivot On a laterally projecting horizontal plate I20 secured forwardly of drum 53 and on the same side of the machine as the latter, are mounted on vertical axes two sheaves I2I and I22, Figs. 1, 3 and 4. On the other side of the trough and carried on a plate I24 secured to the trough is a sheave I23 mounted on a vertical axis, Figs; 3 and 4.

The principal feature of the present invention is the combination of the flanged rollers I3I for supporting the receiving end or trough section 2'! of the conveyor A which is pivoted to the truck 24 to swing on a vertical axis. The flanged rollers I 3| are pivoted at I32 to brackets I29 secured to the lower ends of the opposite uprights of the frame 89. Two of such rollers I3I are mounted on the frame 89 each roller having its flange extending along the outer edges of the heads of the rails, or each roller I3I may be provided with parallel spaced-apart flanges to embrace the opposite edges of the heads of the rail on which the roller rests. As is hereinafter more fully set forth, the rollers I 3I are adapted not only to support the forward portion or the receiving end 21" of the conveyor A during such loading operation as that illustrated in Fig. 3, but the flanges of the rollers I3I by engaging the lateral edges of the rails 23 also prevent lateral movement of the receiving end 21 of the conveyor A when the gathering conveyor B is operated by pivotal swinging thereof as illustrated in Fig. 4.

At the forward end of trough section 21" and on the underside thereof is secured a vertical pivot member I33, Fig. 2, which is engaged by one end of an arm I34 having an expanded vertical web portion I35 adapted to swing about the forward end of the trough. Just above the top of the trough, web I35 has secured thereto a horizontal angle bar I36 on the lower side of the horizontal web of which is mounted a centrally disposed lug I31. To the outer end of the conveyor trough 21" and at its top is secured a circular casting I38 having a peripheral upstanding rib I39 which forms a guide for lug I31. Casting I38 and rib I39 are adapted to support any weight imposed thereon through bar I36.

The gathering conveyor B, Fig. 1, comprises a bottom plate I40 bent upward at one end so as to be adapted to project above the receiving end of the discharge conveyor A, with its forward portion in substantially horizontal position. Extending longitudinally of plate I40 and secured thereto substantially centrally thereof are upper and lower chain guides MI and I42 spaced apart by means of blocks. Guides MI and I42 are provided on opposite sides with longitudinal grooves, in which are engaged elements of a chain I46 which is flexible in planes both parallel and perpendicular to plate I 40. At intervals, flights I41 are secured to chain I46 to project laterally of plate I40 so as to propel material therealong and on one side or the other of the chain guiding means, depending upon the direction of travel of the chain. A plate I48 is secured to the tops of the upper chain guide members MI, and extending longitudinally and centrally of plate I48 is an upright baflie plate I49. At its forward end, plate I49 terminates at an upright post I50 having an upper bifurcated end, Fig. 2. At its rearward end, the plate I49 terminates in a block II in which are mounted on a horizontal transverse axis a pair of sheaves I52.

In a casting at the rear end of the gathering conveyor B and mounted upon the chain guides, is journaled a shaft I54 in perpendicular relation to base plate I40. On the lower end of shaft I54 is fixed a sprocket which engages chain I46 to drive the latter. To the upper end of shaft I54 is keyed a bevel gear I56 engaged by a bevel pinion keyed to the end of a shaft I58 journaled in a bearing I59. A reversible motor I60 is mounted on the tops of the chain guides with its armature shaft in alignment with shaft I58 and in driving connection therewith through a coupling I6I.

The inclined portion of conveyor B is provided with upwardly extending side plates I63 to hold the coal on plate I40 as it travels up the incline, the rearward end of plate I40 being cut away, as indicated at I62, to permit the coal to drop readily into the receiving end of the discharge conveyor trough.

A casting I64 secured to the underside of plate I40 at its rearward end has integral therewith a pair of trunnions of which one is shown at I65, these resting on the angle member I36 and being engaged by retaining angles as at I66. It will be noted that the trunnions are so journaled as to give them a considerable freedom of movement in an upward direction relative to the mounting member constituted by elements I34, I35 and 36.

The jib H2 is pivoted on a vertical axis on the upper forward end of frame 09 and is adapted to extend above the gathering conveyor. The rope I69 having one of its ends engageable with drum 63 may have its other end portion reeved about suitable pulleys and led from. the end of the jib II 2 downward to pulleys I52 on the gathering conveyor. By suitable manipulation of the drum 63, the gathering conveyor may be elevated, as for disposition on a pony truck for transportation. This arrangement is fully described in my above mentioned Patent No. 1,997,591. Due to the pivoting of the boom and the gathering conveyor, the latter may be swung about its pivot I33 in elevated position, the placing of the last named pivot being such relative to the delivery end of the gathering conveyor, as to maintain the latter always in proper delivering position relative to the receiving end of the discharge conveyor.

Upon operating drum 63 to tension rope I69, the gathering conveyor may be swung upwardly about its supporting trunnions I65 and in its raised or lowered position may be swung about vertical pivot I33, the placing of the pivot being such relative to the delivery end of the gathering conveyor as to maintain the latter always in proper delivering position relative to the receiving end of the discharge conveyor.

For transporting the machine along the mine track from place to place in the mine, reliance may be had on the flanged wheels I3I while the hoisting rope IE9 is in place on the machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and wound up on the rope drum t3 sufficiently to elevate the gathering conveyor B to clear the mine track. If a pony truck iiili (Fig. 5) is available with a supporting bolster J83 pivoted to and projecting upwardly from its central portion, the cup-like member I83 may be positioned to bear on such bolster I83 to support the gathering conveyor and the receiving end 2'! of the conveyor A, during transportation as shown in Fig. 5. The cup I83 is located to the left of the center of gravity of the gathering conveyor B, as viewed in Fig. 2, and. therefore when the gathering conveyor B rests on the bolster H33 of the pony truck I98, the rope drum 83 may be released sufficiently to permit the rope I59 to lower the outer and forward end of the gathering conveyor B, thereby lifting by means of the connections shown at I 65 and I68 in Fig. 2, the forward receiving end 21" of the conveyor A together with the flanged wheels I3I, up oif the mine track. Consequently, when the pony truck I83 is used for supporting the gathering conveyor B and the'forward receiving portion of the conveyor A, as shownin Fig. 5, the swivelling of the conveyor A on its vertical axis relative to the truck 24 and the swivelling of the gathering conveyor B relative to the pony truck, will enable the loading machine to travel along curved portions of a mine track in narrow entries of the mine. When the pony truck is not available the hoisting mechanism may maintain the gathering conveyor in sufficiently elevated position to clear the mine track, and the loading machine may travel along curved portions of a mine track in narrow entries if care be taken to swing the gathering conveyor on the pivot I33 so that it will not strike against the walls of the narrow entry, Along straight portions of the mine track the wheeled truck and the flanged wheels I3I will be sufficient to maintain the conveyor A above the mine track with little or no tendency for the gathering conveyor to swing out of alignment or from its adjusted position above the mine track.

In Figs. 3 and 4, there are illustrated two positions of the device when operating to perform its function, according to one method of operation thereof. As here illustrated in Fig. 3, the discharge conveyor A is disposed on a straight track section and supported by means of its truck mounting, and also by means of rollers I3I. The gathering conveyor B rests on the mine floor in advance of the track, and is being sumped into a mass of material through a rope I84 secured at its forward end to a roof-jack I85 and its rearward end engaged with drum 63 for winding thereon. Theintermediate portion of the rope is guided clear of the machine by sheave I22. When the horizontal portion of conveyor B has been sumped into the material, a jack I86 is placed to the left of the machine, rope I84 is reeved around sheaves I 2! and I 23 as shown in Fig. ,4,around a pulley I8'I having its block I88 anchored to jack I86, and its forward end caught in the upper slotted end of post I50, an eye I89 fixed to the end of the rope preventing the latter from pulling away from the post. Upon exerting tension on the rope through manipulation of the winding drum, conveyor B may be swung to the left to engage its gathering end laterally in the material. Upon the completion of this operation, jack I86 may be moved to the right of the machine and rope I84 trained around sheave I22 and pulley I81 to swing conveyor B to the right, the direction of rotation of motor I68 being reversed.

Rope I84 being secured to conveyor B at the top of post I50 has a tendency to tilt the conveyor about its longitudinal axis, this tendency being accommodated readily by the bearings for trunnions I55. This tilting of the gathering conveyor gives it a superior scraping action, and allows it to engage itself readily under the material and leave a clean floor.

It should be particularly noted that the endless driving chain 52 is sufficiently flexible and sufficiently slack to permit the turntable 24 to move through an angle of about 45 on each side of the mine track. It is desirable a run the flanged wheels I3I ofi the ends of the mine track and swing'the conveying apparatus: A, B on the vertical arms of the turntable 24 relatively to the truck frame .29 so as to secure a greater reach for the gathering conveyor B during operation for loading coal at the working face in very wide entries or rooms. When the conveyor apparatus is thus adjusted at an angle to the mine track, the flanged wheels I3I may rest on the mine bottom and be relied on to assist in preventing the receiving portion 2'!" from skidding .sidewise when the gathering conveyor B is swung on its pivotal connection I33 relative to the discharge conveyor A. However, the anchoring jack I86 may be set in such a position. that the pull on the rope I84 between the pulley I 81 and the post I50 will be nearly at right angles to the gathering conveyor B, whereas that portion of the rope I84 between the pulley I23 and the pulley 81 will be neariy parallel to the discharge conveyor A. There will then be little tendency to swing the receiving portion 2'! sidewise while at the same time considerable force will be exerted in swinging the gathering conveyor on its pivot I33.

It should also be noted that the rope I84 when arranged as shown in Fig. 4, extends transversely of the discharge conveyor A between the flanged wheels 53! and the truck. The pull on that portion of the rope I84 between the pulley I23 and the pulley I8? will be resisted partly by the truck and partly by the flanged wheels I3I. In other words, while the discharge conveyor A is mounted on the truck and alsoon the flanged wheels I3I, the pull rope is extended from the supporting framework at a point intermediate the flanged wheels l3! and the truck, thereby taking advantage of the flanged wheels of the truck as well as the flanged wheels I36 for securing a firm anchorage for the discharge conveyor A while the gathering conveyor B is being swung along an are on its pivot I33 relatively to the discharge conveyor A, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

It is evident that when a gathering operation is performed, as illustrated in Fig. i, there will be a tendency for the forward portion 21 of the trough 21 of discharge conveyor A to be moved laterally of the rails. To prevent such movement and thereby to maintain the discharge conveyor A in proper position, as well as to support the forward portion thereof, is the particular function of wheels l3l.

In the operation of the device, the coal is, of course, first gathered by the gathering conveyor B and discharged into the forward portion 21 of trough 2'! of discharge conveyor A. Conveyor A then transports the coal to its discharge end 21' where it is discharged into cars on the mine tracks or onto any other desired device.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and I wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a loading machine, the combination with a truck adapted to travel on a mine track, of a receiving conveyor mounted thereon for adjustment relative thereto on an upright axis and extending beyond said truck with the front end in a lowered position, additional track engaging supporting means for the front portion of said receiving conveyor adapted to prevent lateral movement thereof, a gathering conveyor pivoted to the forward end of said receiving conveyor and adapted to swing relatively thereto on an upright axis while in delivering communication with said receiving conveyor, and rope gearing for swinging said gathering conveyor and comprising means for directing the pulling rope laterally from the receiving conveyor intermediate said truck and said supporting means to the front portion of said gathering conveyor.

2. In loading apparatus, the combination with a truck, of a receiving conveyor mounted thereon for adjustment relative thereto on an upright axis and extending forwardly and downwardly from said truck, additional means on the forward portion of said receiving conveyor for supporting said forward portion near the mine bottom, a gathering conveyor pivoted to the forward end of said receiving conveyor to swing relatively thereto on an upright axis, rope winding mechanism, a rope extending from said winding mechanism to the front end portion of said gathering conveyor, a pulley connected to an anchorage extraneous to the machine for predetermining the direction of pull on the outer end portion of said gathering conveyor, and means for guiding the rope laterally to said pulley from under said receiving conveyor at a position intermediate sai truck and said additional supporting means.

3. In a loading machine, the combination with a truck movable along a trackway, of a receiving conveyor pivotally mounted thereon and extending downwardly and forwardly into proximity to said trackway, abutment mechanism carried by said conveyor between said forwardly extending portion of said conveyor and said trackway and in association with the latter, a gathering conveyor connected to said receiving conveyor to swing relatively thereto on an upright axis in advance of said trackway, and means compris ing rope gearing connected between said conveyors and cooperating with said abutment mechanism to swing the gathering conveyor as aforesaid to gather material for delivery to said receiving conveyor while said abutment mechanism prevents pivotal movement of said receiving conveyor relative to the truck.

4. In loading apparatus, the combination with a truck adapted to travel on a mine track, of a conveyor having a receiving end adjacent to the mine track and mounted on said truck for adjustment relatively thereto on an upright axis, a gathering conveyor pivotally connected to said receiving end for swinging movement relatively thereto on an upright axis, means comprising a pair of flanged rollers connected to said receiving end in position to engage the rails of the mine track and support such receiving end thereon while at the same time bracing such receiving end against lateral movement due to swinging of the gathering conveyor, and means for swinging the gathering conveyor for gathering operation on its upright axis relatively to said receiving conveyor while lateral movement of the front end of said receiving conveyor is resisted by the flanged rollers engaging the rails of the mine track as aforesaid.

5. In loading apparatus, the combination with a truck adapted to travel on a mine track, of a conveyor mounted on said truck for adjustment relative thereto on an upright axis, the front end of said conveyor being adapted to occupy a position adjacent to the mine track, a gathering conveyor pivotally connected to said relatively low front end of said first-named conveyor for swinging movement relatively thereto on an upright axis, means carried by the relatively low portion of said first-named conveyor in position to engage the sides of the mine track while the front end of said first-named conveyor is supported thereon, and means for operating said gathering conveyor to gather a load by swinging the same on its upright axis relatively to said first-named conveyor while in delivery communication with the latter and while said delivery conveyor is pre vented by said track engaging means from moving laterally relatively to said truck.

6. In loading apparatus, the combination with a truck adapted to travel along a mine track, of a receiving conveyor mounted on said truck for lateral adjustment relative thereto on an upright axis, means on the forward portion of said receiving conveyor for confining the latter against lateral movement relatively to the mine track but permitting longitudinal movement of the receiving conveyor along the mine track, a gathering conveyor pivotally connected to the forward end of said receiving conveyor for swinging movement relatively thereto on an upright axis, a rope winding mechanism mounted on said truck, a rope connected to said rope winding mechanism and having its free end adapted to be connected to an anchorage in the mine extraneous to the machine, truck propelling mechanism for moving the truck together with said receiving conveyor along the mine track while said gathering conveyor engages the ground surface in advance of the mine track to eifect sumping of the gathering conveyor into a pile of material to be loaded, and means for guiding the rope from the rope winding mechanism to an anchorage on the gathering conveyor, the construction and arrangement being such that when the winding mechanism is operated while the rope is thus guided to the gathering conveyor the latter will be swung on its upright pivotal axis relatively to the receiving conveyor while the latter is confined against lateral movement relatively to the mine track as aforesaid.

7. In a loading machine, the combination with a truck adapted to travel on a mine track, of a receiving conveyor mounted on said truck for adjustment relative thereto on an upright axis, means for supporting the front end of said receiving conveyor on the mine track while preventing lateral movement of said receiving conveyor relatively to the mine track, a gathering conveyor pivotally connected to the forward end of said receiving conveyor for swinging movement relatively thereto on an upright axis while remaining in delivery communication with said receiving conveyor, and rope gearing comprising a rope extending from rope winding mechanism along guiding means transversely of the receiving conveyor in advance of the truck to and around a guiding pulley connected to an anchorage in the mine extraneous to the machine and thence to the front end portion of said gathering conveyor, the construction and arrangement being such that the supporting means for the front end of the receiving conveyor resists the tendency of the rope extending transversely of the receiving conveyor in advance of the truck to swing the receiving conveyor on its upright axis relatively to the truck.

8. In a loading machine, the combination with a truck adapted to travel on a mine track, of a receiving conveyor mounted thereon for adjustment relative thereto on an upright axis, flanged wheels on the forward portion of the receiving conveyor in position to co-operate with the truck to support the said conveyor for transportation on the mine track, a gathering conveyor pivotally connected to the forward end of said receiving conveyor for swinging movement relatively there-- to about both horizontal and upright axes, rope winding mechanism, rope means connected to said rope winding mechanism, means for enabling said rope means when operated by said rope winding mechanism to swing said gathering conveyor on its horizontal axis into position to clear the mine track for transportation while the machine is supported by said truck and said flanged wheels, and means for enabling the rope means when operated by said rope winding mechanism to swing the gathering conveyor on its upright axis when said gathering conveyor is in ground engaging gathering position in advance of the mine track, the construction and arrangement being such that when the gathering conveyor is held by said rope means clear of the mine track the machine is supported for transportation by said truck and said flanged wheels and when said rope means is operated to perform a gathering operation said flanged wheels not only support the front end of the receiving conveyor but also resist the tendency of the gathering operation to swing the receiving conveyor on its upright axis relatively to said truck.

NILS D. LEVIN. 

